Incidentally, the "next week" titles are shown against a background of the Black Whip riding back into the waterfall cave.
Having a female protagonist was very rare for the serials, and this is one of the few where she's an Action Girl, as opposed to a Distressed Damsel as in The Perils of Pauline. The writers still make sure to have a male co-hero though.
Any Action Girl fans out there?
Chapter Two: The Tomb of Terror
The quick recap doesn't reveal the Black Whip's civilian name, but the picture is clearly of Barbara.
We open, as usual with serials, a few minutes earlier, with the Black Whip switching from gun to whip. This time, her jumping on the wagon's horses to slow them is more clearly shown. And we also see Vic realizing that the wagon is coming to a cliff and leaping free just in time. It's allowable, since the camera had cut away earlier last chapter. Shorty and the printing press are presumably smashed at the bottom of the cliff.
As Vic gets up and brushes himself off, the Black Whip returns to her steed. Now, Vic's a fair distance off, her back is turned, and women didn't often wear trousers in 1899 Idaho. (Not as shocking as it would have seemed back East though.) Still, her hips are child-bearing, and she runs like a woman. Vic might be able to get a clue. Especially when the Black Whip waves to him.
A concerned citizens meeting, again hosted by Mr. Hammond at his stage line. He introduces Vic, who has a plan. Said plan is posting a large reward to anyone whose information leads to the exposure of the outlaws' leader. Said reward is to be funded by a general donation drive among the law-abiding citizens. This is deemed a good idea and Vic is put in charge of raising the money.
Soon, the Crescent City Herald announces a ten thousand dollar reward (which is an insane amount of money for the time period.) Hammond reads the story to Saxon. They need a plan before one of their minions gets Gold Fever and talks.
That evening, the banker counts the money into saddlebags to make sure the tally is correct. However, the time lock on the bank's vault has already been set for the night, so the cash can't be stored there. Fortunately, Hammond's stagecoach line means he has his own vault for valuable freight, and he'd be glad to hold the money until morning.
Vic volunteers to stand guard, but first he has to get Miss Meredith a list of the contributors for the next day's paper. He'll be back before Hammond closes.
At the Herald offices, Ten-Point gets a call, only to discover it's for Vic. It's someone who is willing to spill the beans, but only if Vic comes alone to Council Rock.
After he leaves, Barbara expresses the opinion that it's a trap. Ten-Point apparently knows she's the Black Whip, as he worries about her going after the handsome fellow.
Vic rides out to Council Rock while Barbara suits up.
Vic meets the caller, only to discover that there are two more armed men in hiding. They're aware that the money is with Hammond, and this is just a method of getting Vic out of the way while it's stolen.
Vic fights valiantly, but is soon afflicted with a Tap on the Head. Good thing the Black Whip shows up just then. She uses her whip to distract the outlaws and then rides off with them following. This gives Vic the chance to recover.
The undercover agent heads back to town, while the outlaws pursue the Black Whip. She's far enough ahead to find a good ambush spot and use her whip as a throat-level trip wire. Once she's sure the outlaws are out cold, she rides off.
Back at Hammond's place, he's being tied up in his office by Saxon and Harris. He instructs them on how to place the explosive to get into the vault. "This must look authentic."
Vic and the Black Whip rush back to town separately.
Saxon carries the saddlebags of money out of the open vault while Harris sets the explosive. (It's in an "XXX" keg.) Vic arrives and disarms Saxon, but the hidden Harris gets the drop on him. A little distraction later, Vic is in yet another fist fight.
Hammond hears the commotion and inches towards the door to the vault room. As the fight continues, the Black Whip rides onward.
It's actually a pretty exciting fistfight, though very cinematic. (The legendary stuntman Yakima Canutt worked on this film, by the way.) The Black Whip continues to ride. Hammond's business is getting pretty thoroughly trashed. Finally Harris manages to use a chair leg to kayo Vic.
Harris goes back to lighting the fuse, and that's when the Black Whip shows up. She disarms Saxon, but Harris is able to reclaim the gun, and the Black Whip is trapped in the vault with the lighted explosive.
Saxon and Harris grab the money and vamoose. The Black Whip sees the explosive, but too late to stop it. The keg goes off, dooming the Black Whip!
Be here next week for Chapter Three: Mob Murder!
